Kit and method for an interchangeable graphic for game equipment, and equipment provided therewith

ABSTRACT

A kit for providing interchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment includes a magnetizable layer having an adhesive on a surface thereof, and a removable graphic sheet assembly adapted to be magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer. The removable graphic sheet assembly comprises a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer. The game equipment may include a box having a surface and a hole defined in the surface, and the kit installed on the surface of the box. Methods of installing the kit on the surface of game equipment may include adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of the box, and then magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/191,756, filed Jul. 13, 2015, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to game equipment. The inventionparticularly relates to providing interchangeable graphics on thesurface of game equipment, a particular example of which is the playingsurface of a cornhole game.

Cornhole, also known as tailgate and bean bag toss, is a well known andpopular game in which players take turns tossing weighted bags (e.g.,filed with sand or corn) at an inclined box or platform in which a holeis present, typically located near one end of the platform. The size ofthe platform can vary, but is commonly 2×4 feet. The hole is commonlyabout six inches in diameter and centered about nine inches from the endof the platform. Points are scored for each tossed bag that remains onthe surface of the platform and for each bag that drops through the holein the platform, with the latter normally being worth more points.Participants are typically required to toss the bags from some distancefrom the platform, such that the condition of the playing surfacesurrounding the hole is important, as is the condition of the edgedefined by the hole in the playing surface.

Cornhole platforms are often manufactured to have some type of image orgraphic on its playing surface, for example, logos of sports teams, toenhance their visual appearance. For this purpose, the playing surfacemay be painted or equipped with a printed decal or film. Decorating orresurfacing the playing surface with paint is often performed by handwith the aid of a stencil, and the painted surface is often top-coatedwith a clear coating to protect the underlying artwork as well asachieve a smoother playing surface. Films used to decorate or resurfacethe playing surface of a cornhole platform are often adhered to theplatform surface with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Such films may beapplied to an existing cornhole platform with a retrofit kit, forexample, a decal or film applied directly to the existing surface of theplatform on a semipermanent or permanent basis.

Drawbacks of painted graphics include the fact that the graphic ispermanent until either physically removed or over-coated, and thegraphic may be of lower quality as compared to a graphic printed on afilm. On the other hand, drawbacks of films include the difficulty ofapplying the film without wrinkles and/or bubbles. In addition, films ofthe types applied to cornhole platforms are typically semi-permanent,cannot be reused once removed from the cornhole platform, and often lacka protective coating or laminate film to protect the printed graphic.

In view of the above, it can be appreciated that there are certainproblems, shortcomings or disadvantages associated with the prior art,and that it would be desirable if methods were available for providinginterchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a kit and method for providinginterchangeable graphics on the playing surface of game equipment, andgame equipment having a playing surface equipped with suchinterchangeable graphics.

According to one aspect of the invention, a kit for providing aninterchangeable magnetic graphic system on a playing surface of gameequipment includes a magnetizable layer having an adhesive on a surfacethereof, and a removable graphic sheet assembly adapted to bemagnetically attached to the magnetizable layer. The removable graphicsheet assembly comprises a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visibleon a surface of the magnetic layer.

Another aspect of the invention is a platform for a cornhole game. Theplatform includes a box having a surface and a hole defined in thesurface, and an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on the surfaceof the box. The interchangeable magnetic graphic system includes amagnetizable layer adhered to the surface of the box and a removablegraphic sheet assembly magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer.The removable graphic sheet assembly includes a magnetic layer and agraphic that is visible on a surface of the magnetic layer.

Other aspects of the invention include methods of installing the kitdescribed above on a playing surface of game equipment. A particular butnonlimiting example is a method of installing the interchangeablemagnetic graphic system on the surface of a box of a cornhole game. Themethod includes adhering the magnetizable layer to the surface of thebox, and then magnetically attaching the graphic sheet assembly to themagnetizable layer.

Technical effects of the kit and method described above preferablyinclude the ability to utilize the magnetic layer and its associatedgraphic to define a removable playing surface that can be temporarilyaffixed to game equipment, for example, the platform of a cornhole game,and subsequently removed if so desired to install a different magneticlayer and graphic.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be betterappreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a platform for a cornhole game, wherein theplaying surface of the platform is provided with an interchangeablemagnetic graphic system in accordance with a nonlimiting embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the platform of FIG. 1, and schematicallyrepresents discrete layers of the interchangeable magnetic graphicsystem.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the interchangeable magnetic graphicsystem of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 represent a platform 10 suitable for use in playingcornhole. As represented, the platform 10 generally comprises a box 12that has an upper surface 16 that is inclined as a result of one end ofthe box 12 being supported by one or more legs 14. A hole 18 is disposedin the upper surface 16 of the platform 10 near the end of the box 12supported by the legs 14. The dimensions of the box 12 and its variousfeatures can be consistent with conventional cornhole play, though it isforeseeable that the dimensions of the box 12 could widely differ. Assuch, it should be noted that the drawings are drawn for purposes ofclarity when viewed in combination with the following description, andtherefore are not necessarily to scale. In addition, to facilitate thedescription of the illustrated embodiments of the platform 10 providedbelow, relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,”“horizontal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,”“upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be usedin reference to the orientation of the platform 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3, andare relative terms that indicate the orientation of the platform 10during its use and therefore help to define the scope of the invention.Finally, while aspects of the invention will be described in referenceto the cornhole platform 10 shown in the drawings, it should beunderstood that the invention may also pertain to other game equipment.

The upper surface 16 of the platform 10 defines the playing surface ofthe platform 10, and therefore will be referred to as such in thefollowing discussion. Because points are scored for each tossed bag thatremains on the playing surface 16 and for each bag that drops throughthe hole 18, the surface condition of the playing surface 16 isimportant, as is the condition of the edge defined by the hole 18 in theplaying surface 16.

The present invention provides an interchangeable magnetic graphicsystem 20 and a method for manufacturing and installing theinterchangeable magnetic graphic system 20 as a kit that can be used toresurface a new or existing platform. As represented in the figures, thesystem 20 is adapted to be applied to an existing surface 32 of the box12. The system 20 includes, but is not limited to, an adhesive layer 22,a magnetizable layer 24, a magnetic layer 26 having a graphic 28 (forexample, on one of its surfaces), and an optional transparent ortranslucent topcoat layer 30. If present, the topcoat layer 30 definesthe playing surface 16 of the platform 10, and in its absence themagnetic layer 26 will typically define the playing surface 16.

The adhesive layer 22 is preferably a double-sided adhesive layer thatserves to directly adhere the magnetizable layer 24 to the surface 32 ofthe box 12, and as such the adhesive and magnetizable layers 22 and 24may be viewed as permanent or semipermanent components of the box 12.Various adhesive materials and pressure-sensitive tape materials knownin the art can be used as the adhesive layer 22. As permanent orsemipermanent components of the box 12, the adhesive and magnetizablelayers 22 and 24 are preferably prefabricated to have a predefined hole34 corresponding in size and location to the hole 18 in the surface 32of the box 12. The magnetizable layer 24 is formed of or formed tocontain a magnetizable material, for example, a ferromagnetic metal suchas cobalt, nickel. etc. The magnetizable layer 24 is preferably aprecisely fabricated continuous sheet that closely corresponds to thesurface 32 of the box 12, including an outer peripheral size and shapethat corresponds to the outer peripheral size and shape of the surface32, in addition to the location and size of its predefined hole 34 thatcorresponds in size and location to the hole 18 in the surface 32 of thebox 12. Such embodiment allows for all of the layers 22, 24, 26, and 30to be pliable or semi-rigid while providing for the upper surface 16 tosufficiently rigid for use as the playing surface due to the supportfrom the surface 32 of the box 12. Alternatively, it is foreseeable thatthe magnetizable layer 24 could be a fabricated sheet having dimensionsthat are less than the dimensions of the surface 32 of the box 12 and/orcould comprise two or more separate fabricated sheets located at variouslocations on the surface 32 of the box 12. Since the upper surface 16 ispreferably smooth for use as a playing surface, such alternativeembodiment preferably includes the upper layers 26 and 30 as beingrigid.

The magnetic layer 26 is formed of or formed to contain any suitablemagnetic material. The magnetic layer 26 is sufficiently magneticallyattracted to the magnetizable layer 24 to ensure that the magnetic layer26 will remain in place during use of the platform 10, yet be able to beselectively removed from the magnetizable layer 24 when desired.

The graphic 28 is visible when viewing the upper surface of the magneticlayer 26. The graphic 28 can be formed in the magnetic layer 26 or itsupper surface by any process suitable for the material of the magneticlayer 26. Alternatively, the graphic 28 can be formed in or by aseparate layer that is directly or indirectly applied to the uppersurface of the magnetic layer 26. In either case, the graphic 28 ispreferably a permanent feature visible at the outer surface of themagnetic layer 26. If present, the topcoat layer 30 serves to protectand preserve the graphic 28 during use of the platform 10. Variousmaterials are well known and suitable for use as the topcoat layer 30,for example, laminating PVC materials that are commercially available.The magnetic layer 26, graphic 28, and (if present) topcoat layer 30 arepreferably permanently adhered to each other to define a prefabricatedand removable graphic sheet assembly 36 (FIG. 3) that has been preciselycut to the desired dimensions corresponding to those of the surface 32and hole 18 of the box 12.

A kit manufactured to install the interchangeable magnetic graphicsystem 20 preferably includes each of the layers 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30.In preferred embodiments, the adhesive layer 22 is pre-applied andpermanently adhered to the magnetizable layer 24, and the graphic sheetassembly 36 is prefabricated to comprise the magnetic layer 26 andgraphic 28. If present within the graphic sheet assembly 36, the topcoatlayer 30 is preferably pre-applied over the graphic 28 on the magneticlayer 26. In either case, the graphic sheet assembly 36 is fabricated todefine the playing surface 16, and as such the surface 16 of theassembly 36 should be manufactured or otherwise produced to be smoothand have a relatively low coefficient of friction to promote slipcharacteristics that may be required by the particular game, forexample, as specified by the American Cornhole Association (ACA). Asnoted above, each layer 22, 24, 26 28, and 30 is also preferablymanufactured to have a predefined hole 34 corresponding in size andlocation to the hole 18 in the surface 32 of the box 12. Care should betaken during the fabrication of the graphic sheet assembly 36 to ensurethat the edge of the playing surface 16 defining the hole 34 in thegraphic sheet assembly 36 is free of burrs. According to a preferredaspect of the invention, the surface 16 defined by the graphic sheetassembly 36 and the edge of the hole 34 therein are sufficiently smoothand precisely formed to provide a suitable and durable playing surfacefor use in a cornhole game.

If installing the system 20 as a kit, installation generally entailscarefully positioning and adhering the magnetizable layer 24 to thesurface 32 of the box 12 to ensure that the holes 34 in the adhesive andmagnetizable layers 22 and 24 are aligned with the hole 18 in the box12. After adhering the magnetizable layer 24 to the box surface 32, thegraphic sheet assembly 36 can be positioned on the magnetizable layer 24so that the magnetic layer 26 is magnetically retained with themagnetizable layer 24 and the hole 34 in the sheet assembly 36 isaligned with the hole 34 in the magnetizable layer 24 and, consequently,the hole 18 in the box 12. Thereafter, the magnetic layer 26 remainsmagnetically retained on the upper surface of the magnetizable layer 24.At any time, the graphic sheet assembly 36 can be removed from themagnetizable layer 24 to allow the installation of a different graphicsheet assembly 36, which may bear a graphic 28 of the same or differentimage, for example, a different logo.

Although the magnetizable layer 24 has been described herein as beingsecured to game equipment with an adhesive layer 22, it is foreseeableand within the scope of the invention that the magnetizable layer 24could be secured with fasteners, preferably in a manner that providesthe magnetizable layer 24 to provide a relatively smooth surface whensecured to the surface 32 of the box 12.

While the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments,it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in theart. For example, the physical configuration of the platform 10 or kit(including its layers 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30) could differ from thatshown, and materials and processes/methods other than those noted couldbe used. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only bythe following claims.

1. A kit for providing an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on asurface of game equipment, the kit comprising: a magnetizable layerhaving an adhesive on a surface thereof; and a removable graphic sheetassembly adapted to be magnetically attached to the magnetizable layer,the removable graphic sheet assembly comprising a magnetic layer and agraphic that is visible at a surface of the magnetic layer.
 2. The kitaccording to claim 1, wherein the graphic is defined by a layer that ispermanently adhered to the magnetic layer.
 3. The kit according to claim2, further comprising a transparent or translucent topcoat thatprotectively overlies the graphic on the magnetic layer.
 4. The kitaccording to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer permanentlyadhered to the magnetizable layer.
 5. The kit according to claim 1,wherein the magnetizable layer and the removable graphic sheet assemblyeach have a hole predefined therein.
 6. A method of installing theinterchangeable magnetic graphic system of claim 1 on the surface of thegame equipment, the method comprising: adhering the magnetizable layerto the surface of the game equipment; and removably magneticallyattaching the graphic sheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.
 7. Themethod according to claim 6, the method further comprising removing thegraphic sheet assembly from the magnetizable layer and installing adifferent graphic sheet assembly on the magnetizable layer.
 8. Aplatform for a cornhole game, the platform comprising: a box having asurface and a hole defined in the surface; and an interchangeablemagnetic graphic system on the surface of the box, the interchangeablemagnetic graphic system comprising a magnetizable layer adhered to thesurface of the box and a removable graphic sheet assembly magneticallyattached to the magnetizable layer, the removable graphic sheet assemblycomprising a magnetic layer and a graphic that is visible on a surfaceof the magnetic layer.
 9. The platform according to claim 8, wherein thegraphic is defined by a layer that is permanently adhered to themagnetic layer.
 10. The platform according to claim 9, furthercomprising a transparent or translucent topcoat that protectivelyoverlies the graphic on the magnetic layer.
 11. The platform accordingto claim 8, further comprising an adhesive layer permanently adhered tothe magnetizable layer and adhering the magnetizable layer to thesurface of the box.
 12. The platform according to claim 8, wherein themagnetizable layer and the removable graphic sheet assembly each have ahole predefined therein and corresponding in size and location to thehole in the surface of the box.
 13. A method of installing theinterchangeable magnetic graphic system of claim 8 on the surface of thebox, the method comprising: adhering the magnetizable layer to thesurface of the box; and removably magnetically attaching the graphicsheet assembly to the magnetizable layer.
 14. The method according toclaim 13, the method further comprising removing the graphic sheetassembly from the magnetizable layer and installing a different graphicsheet assembly on the magnetizable layer.
 15. A removable graphic sheetassembly for use with an interchangeable magnetic graphic system on asurface of game equipment, the removable graphic sheet assemblycomprising: a magnetic layer adapted to be magnetically attached to amagnetizable layer of the interchangeable magnetic graphic system; agraphic that is visible at a surface of the magnetic layer; and atransparent or translucent topcoat that protectively overlies thegraphic on the magnetic layer.